Device for nullifying combination locks



April 1, 1952 N. KRASNANSKY ETAL 2,591,165

DEVICE FOR NULLIFYINO COMBINATION LOOKS Filed Feb. 14, 1947 PatentedApr. 1, 1952 GFFICE DEVICE FOR NULLIFYING COMBINATION LOC NatalieKrasansky, Mauricio Sulik, Pablo Eliscovich, and Juan Levy, BuenosAires,

Argentina Application February 14, 1947, Serial No. 728,620 In ArgentinaDecember 31, 1946 Claims.

rThis invention refers to a combination lock of the type of lockingdevice in which the displacement of the bolt or locking element isdependent upon a predetermined position of the mutable segments of acode forming mechanism, such as described in U. S. Patents Nos.1,772,076 and 2,160,698, and more particularly this invention relates toa cover mechanism provided with means for destroying the codecombination of the segments.

Many devices of this nature have been designed for this type ofmechanism, with usually satisfactory results due to the multiplecombinations which may be obtained by changing the correspondingsegments. Of little value, however, is the efnciency of the loclr unlessit requires that the operator destroy the given code combination tosecure the locking eiiect properly.

This signifies that any combination lock requires a further operationwhich calls for some care, as the safety of the lock depends upon thisoperation, which also must nullify all traces which might serve toreveal the secret of the code.

In View of what is stated above, it is understandable that a combinationlock may be considered really eiiicient if it is provided with meanscapable of destroying the combination in a somewhat automatic manner, sothat it does not require the attention of the operator after the openingoperation; this very condition has been attained in the combination lockimproved according to this invention.

According to the invention, the segment mechanism is provided with a lidwhich at the same time as it serves as a terminal closure member,operates a segment alining device in such a way that, on closing saidlid, the code which serves as the opening combination for the look iscompletely nullied.

Io this end. the segments operate between two strips which aredisplaceably mounted in a frame to which is also pivoted said lid, whichstrips allow the segments to move into different positions when the lidis open, as will be later explained.

Said strips are provided with means operable by the lid to move thesegments into alinement and out of the code combination when the lid isclosed.

In addition to the above object, this invention provides a number ofother objects, among which may be cited the securing of ample safety inthe closure of the lock, as the combination code cannot be discovereddue to ioregetfulness or emission in operation, as on closing the lid ofthe lock, the opening combination is completely nullied.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following Specication. The invention will now be more specificallydescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings which are to beVunderstood explicative of the invention and not limitative of its scope.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of the lock showing its external casing with thehasp slot, operating element of the slide, the plurality of segmentsforming the combination of the code, and a part oi the code vnullifyingassembly in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the loci; with the lid closed.

Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 but with the lid reopened, toshow that said lid, after being closed, alines the segments and breaksup their combination, nullifying the code.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the lock partially in section taken online IV-IV of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 4, but taken on line V-V ofFig. 2.

In the various drawings, the same reference numbers designate similar orcorresponding elements or parts; and the devices or elements whichcomprise various parts are identied by letters.

In view of the fact that the mechanism of the combination lock is known(see prior art cited) only those parts and means necessary for theexplanation of the code nullifying assembly will be specificallymentioned.

As may be seen in the drawings, a is the base plate of the lock.

This base plate a may be fixed to the outer face ci a piece of luggage,in any convenient Way, such as by bolts (not shown) passing throughopenings l. On said base plate a cover E is mounted having a pluralityof projecting ears 2 (see Figures 4 and 5), passing through slots 3, andsuitably bent so as to secure said cover 6 to said base plate a. Thedifferent parts and operating means of the combination lock, which areknown are located in housing 4 and connected through lever 'l to agovernor element 9 which is manually operable towards the positionindicated by an arrow in Fig. 1 so that upon positioning of a pluralityoi segments Ell according to a certain code, said governor element 9 maymove tongue 8 visible in slot 5 will be readily understood to thoseskilled in the art, to free the hasp (not shown).

Each segment I5 consists of a cylindrical body provided with a notch Iand an arm I9. The cylindrical body of each segment I0 is housed inhousing Il. Cover 6 is provided at its upper face II with a longitudinalopening I 2 through which arms'l emerge. Notches I0 are arranged atdifferent positions, and in order to aline all notches I0 it isnecessary to adapt said segments I in different positions whichcorrespond to the code.

On the upper face II of cover 6 a frame I4 is mounted having an openingI3 coinciding with opening I2 and through which project the free ends ofarms I0 cf segments I0.

Said frame I is xed to said upper face I I by means of a plurality ofprojecting ears I9 passing through slots 20 arranged on the upper faceII, said projecting ears I9 being suitably bent as shown in Figures 4and 5. Frame Illthus comprises two side bands I4 and III" formingopening I3, said side bands I4 and I4 having each a recess 2 I A pair ofstrips I5 provided with projecting wedges I 6 are at least partiallyhoused in said frame I4. Said wedges are capable of penetrating intorecesses 2 I, as will be later on explained. Frame I4 is provided at oneend portion with a hinge I3, about which swings a lid I1 having sides IIwhich in closed positionof said lid II are in closed contact with frameIll.

Each of said strips I5 have a comb shape edge 22 formed by a number ofrecesses 23 and. projections 25. The number of recesses 23V of each edge22 coincides with the number of segments Il). The strip I5 may enter incontact through their projections 24, so that two opposite recesses 23form an opening, the area of which substantially coincides with the areaof a normal transverse section of arm III at the level of said edges 22.

As may be seen in Figs. 4 and 5, strips I5 are slidably displaceable onthe upper face II of cover 5. When the lid I'I is open, as shown in Fig.l, strips I5 may easily be separated such as by actuating arms I0" ofsegments Ii! to establish the desired code position. Obviously in orderto enable some of the segments to be inclined either to one or the otherside, strips I5 may be separated and their corresponding wedges It thenproject laterally outwardly of theframe III. Thus upon closing lid II,sides I1 will act on said wedges I6 and push strips I5 towards thecenter line of opening I3; whilst the wedges I 5 penetrate into recesses2l, these strips I5 bearing in turn by means of their recesses 23against arms I9" of segments II! thereby forcing them into theperpendicular position shown in Fig. 5. In consequence, after lid I'Ihas been closed and even if it is immediately opened, segments Il) arenot in the combination position and only the person acquainted with thecode may again recombine them to open the lock.

In view of the foregoing and what is known in the art, it has to beaccepted that the segments I5 would otherwise remain in the position inwhich they have been placed such as for instance in the position to formthe opening combination. Theroperator, were it not for the codenullifying assembly would be obliged to move all the arms IU of themutable segments to destroy their order and maintain the secrecy of thecombination. However, due to the code nullifying assembly anypreoccupation in this connection is completely unnecessary. In fact, itis sufcient to close the lid I'I to ensure that all arms I0 of thesegments are alined, as the sides I'I' of 4 this lid I1 act upon thewedges I6 the strips I5 of which consequently aline all the arms I0" ofsegments I0; as seen in Figs. 3 and 5.

Thus, if an unauthorized person should open lid I'I, he would find theplurality of segments in the condition as shown in Fig. 3, i. e., withthe two strips I5 displaced towards the center line, through openings 23of which appear arms I0" of segments I0.

As the strips I5 are easily displaceable, nothing will prevent anyperson from actuating arms I0" and tipping them over to one side or theother but if said person is ignorant of the secret code or combination,it will not be possible to open the lock, as said segments IU, if theydo not present their corresponding notches I0 in a line, stop andprevent all movement of governor element 9.

Knowing the code, it is very easy to open the lock, it being simplynecessary to move arms I0 to one side or the other in the order calledfor by the code so that notches I0 will be alined and allow the movementof the governor element 9 towards the position shown dotted in Fig. 1;this movement withdrawing tongue 8, so that a hasp (not shown) may belifted away from the main body of the lock.

The lock may be constructed in various forms according to its specificapplication to doors,`

cabinets, luggage, etc., provided that no departure is made from thefundamental principles which govern its construction, and which areclearly specified in the claims appended herein.

We claim: l. In a combination lock of the type described comprising aframe, a plurality of movable arms in said frame projecting from theframe and Y which when arranged in a predetermined code position permitthe displacement of a lock element, a code nullifying assembly instructural and functional relationship with said projecting arm andincluding a lid pivotally mounted on the frame, and means on the frameoperable by said lid to contact and move the arms into alignment andthereby out of the combination when the lid is closed during the laterpart of the closing movement thereof.

2. In a combination lock of the type described, comprising a pluralityof arms in structural relationship with a lock element operable whensaid plurality or armsrare in a predetermined code position, each ofsaid arms consisting of a cylindrical body and a projecting arm, a baseplate, a cover mounted on said base plate and having a longitudinalopening, said plurality of arms being housed in said cover and said armsprojecting through said opening, a frame having two side bands defininga second longitudinal opening, said frame being mounted on said coverand the longitudinal center lines of said rst and second-mentionedopenings being coplanar in a plane perpendicular to said base plate,said arms projecting beyond said second-mentioned opening, a lidpivotally connected to said frame and adapted to cover said frame andarms whenV in the closed position, a pair of strips atleast partiallyand slidably housed in said frame, each strip having an inwardly andupwardly Vdirected projection engageable with said lid during the laterpart of the closing movement of said lid, said strips having oppositeedges engageable with said projecting arms to move said arms intoalignment andout of the code position when the lid is closed.

3. In a combination lock of the type described comprising a plurality ofarms in structural relationship with a lock element through a governorelement operable when said plurality of arms are in a predetermined codeposition, each of said arms consisting of a cylindrical body and aprojecting arm, a base plate, a cover mounted on said base plate andhaving a longitudinal opening, said plurality of arms being housed insaid cover and said arms projecting through said opening, a frame havingtwo side bands defining a second longitudinal opening, said frame beingmounted on said cover and the longitudinal center lines of said iirstand second-mentioned openings being coplanar in a plane perpendicular tosaid base frame, said arms projecting beyond said second-mentionedopening, said frame having an end portion, a hinge supported by said endportion, a lid pivotally linked to said hinge, a pair of strips each ofwhich is provided with an outwardly and upwardly facing wedge projectionand being partially and slidably housed in said frame, said side bandshaving each a recess for receiving said projections, the face of saidwedge projections being engageable with said lid during the later partof the closing movement of said lid for moving said strips toward eachother and toward said projecting arms, said strips having opposite'edges engageable with said projecting arms to move said arms intoalignment and out of the code position during such movement of saidstrips, and said opposite edges being engaged with each other when thelid isclosed.

4. In a combination lock of the type described comprising a plurality ofswingable projecting arms in cooperative relationship with a lool: ele 5ment, a cover having a longitudinal opening, said projecting armspassing through said longitudinal opening, a frame fixed to said coverand having a second longitudinal opening similar to said iirst-mentionedlongitudinal opening arranged parallel therewith and spaced therefrom,said arms also passing through said secondmentioned opening, a lidpivotally linked to said frame to cover said frame and said arms, a pairof strips slidably housed in said frame and each provided with a wedgeprojecting outwardly and upwardly from said frame and engageable withsaid lid, said pair of strips having two opposite comb-shaped edgesformed by a plurality of recesses and projections, the number ofrecesses of each edge coinciding with the number of arms, said pair ofstrips being engageable with each other by means of their projections,whereby two opposite recesses dene an opening, the area of whichsubstantially coincides with the area of a normal transverse section ofone of said arms at the level of said edges, and said pair of stripsconstituting a shutter-.like obstruction between the iirst andsecond-mentioned longitudinal openings, and thereby moving the arms intoalignment and out of the code position when the lid moves during thelater part of the closing movement thereof.

5. In a combination lock of the type described comprising a plurality ofswingable projecting arms adapted to control the movement of a lockelement, a cover having a longitudinal opening, said projecting armspassing through said longitudinal opening, a frame fixed to said cover iand having a second longitudinal opening similar to said first-mentionedlongitudinal. opening and arranged parallel therewith and spacedtherefrom, said arms also passing through said second opening, a lidpivotally linked to said frame to cover said frame and said arms when inthe closed position, said lid having two parallel sides, a pair ofstrips slidably housed in said frame and each provided with a wedgeprojecting upwardly and outwardly of said frame land engagement withsaid sides of said lid, said strips having opposite edges engageablewith said arms, whereby upon closing said lid said pair of strips' willbring said arms into alignment due to the action exerted on said wedgeby contact with said sides of said lid during the later part of theclosing movement thereof.

NATALio KRASANSKY.

MAURICIO SULIK.

PABLO ELISCOVICH.

JUAN LEVY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,772,076 Feldmeyer Aug.. 5, 19302,160,698 Herbst MayI 3, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date102,744 Sweden Oct. 7, 1941

